DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Airport Land Release and Relocation of New York State Department of Transportation Sub-Residency

In accordance the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. §4321 et seq., and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations, 40 C.F.R. parts 1500-1508, notice is hereby given that copies of a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Airport Land Release and Relocation of a New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Sub-Residency at Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport are available for public review and comment. Notice is also hereby given that an Open House information session and a Public Hearing will be held at times and at a location listed below. The NYSDOT Project Identification Number (P.I.N) for the relocation of the Sub-Residency is 3M00.18

The Draft EA identifies the proposed action, project alternatives, and presents an evaluation of potential environmental impacts in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Order 5050.4B and 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures and the other applicable laws, rules and regulations.

Project Description: Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport proposes to modify the Airport Layout Plan (ALP) for removal of approximately 15 undeveloped acres of land at the northwest corner of airport property from the ALP for future use for non-aeronautical purposes. FAA approval of a change to Ithaca Tompkins Airport’s Airport Layout Plan is required. The County intends to sell these 15 acres to the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) for construction of a new maintenance facility. The new maintenance facility will replace an existing Sub-residency located on the north side of Ithaca between Route 13 (N. Meadow St.) and the Cayuga Inlet, and will include a sub- residency maintenance building, a cold storage building, salt storage barn, and hopper building. The site will also contain stockpile areas for pipe, stone and millings, and ancillary site features including a fueling station, parking for 40 vehicles, and storm water management facilities to handle on-sight storm water. The project will require construction of an access drive from Warren Road and the extension of utilities. The project includes construction which affects wetlands covered by Executive Order 11990of the President of the United States dated May 24, 1977, “Protection of Wetlands”.

This Public Hearing also serves as part of the NYSDOT public involvement process for the project to construct a new NYSDOT maintenance facility.

Open House: January 16, 2019 from 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM and 5:30 – 6:00 PM at the Lansing Town Hall, 29 Auburn Road, Lansing NY 14882. Participants will have an opportunity to review and discuss the Project with NYSDOT representatives as well as the opportunity to provide oral statements through a stenographer.

Public Hearing: The Public Hearing to receive public comment on the Draft EA will be held on January 16, 2019 from 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM at the Lansing Town Hall, 29 Auburn Road, Lansing NY 14882.

A sign language interpreter will be available at the hearing. If you require an assistive listening system, or any other accommodation to facilitate your participation in the Public Hearing, please contact Mike Washburn as provided below. The public is invited to submit comments on the Draft EA orally and/or in writing at the public hearing, or by providing written comments by mail, or by email, by the comment deadline date of February 2, 2019 and directed to the contact addresses identified below.

For further information about the Public Hearing, or to provide comments on the Draft EA, please contact NYSDOT via mail or email as identified below:

All oral and written comments will be addressed in the Final Environmental Assessment.

Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address or other personal identifying information in your comment, be advised that your entire comment –including your personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time.

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